No sleeping in for these mums
Being seven months pregnant could not stop one mum from starting Mother’s Day with a morning jog.
About 500 Manawatu mums, dads and children went without a sleep-in to walk and run a nationwide Heart Foundation fundraiser yesterday.
Shonalla Tangaere, a mother of ‘‘two, nearly three’’, finished the 5km run in 30 minutes while being seven months pregnant. ‘‘I just wanted to see if I could do it.’’
The Jennian Homes Mother’s Day Fun Run/walk is one of the biggest Mother’s Day events in New Zealand, with more than 9500 women taking part across 23 locations nationwide.
Tangaere ran in Palmerston North alongside partner Sonny Woodmass, who pushed their children Waimaria, 3, and Cairo, 11 months, in a stroller. ‘‘To be able to to do it with my family, that is all I want on Mother’s Day,’’ she said.
Tangaere said she was ‘‘pretty stoked’’ with her effort. To her, being a mum meant being a role model. ‘‘Just to be an example to my kids.’’
Katina Hughes crossed the finish line holding hands with her daughter Christobelle, 7. ‘‘We just like to get out and show our kids what it is like being healthy, and it is for a good cause too. It is nice to have breakfast in bed, but it is nice to high-five a few mums out here too.’’
Her breakfast in bed was porridge and a smoothie to prepare for the run.
Hughes said being a mum was ‘‘everything’’. ‘‘It is challenging. It is rewarding. It is enjoying life again, seeing things from your children’s eyes. It has got its challenges, but these things are special.’’
Jennian Homes Manawatu director Tarsha Isles said it was awesome to see so many mums out. ‘‘I think they just want to be out with their family. It really is just a lovely family thing to do.’’